Juvenile violent behavior: The suspected influences of childhood aggression and early onset drug use

This research focuses on childhood aggression and early-onset drug use, both of which have been linked to juvenile violent behavior either in a prospective or reciprocal relationship. There is some evidence in support of the idea that manifestations of aggressive behavior in early life signify a greater risk of initiating delinquent or violent behavior at an earlier age. Involvement with illegal drug use relatively early in life may also yield an increased risk of engaging in problem behaviors later on. As such, the overarching purpose of this research project was to examine the extent to which violent behavior might be determined as a function of childhood aggression and early-onset drug use.; This research drew on data from an ongoing longitudinal study being conducted by the Johns Hopkins Prevention Research Center. An extended follow-up has involved tracking participants from the time of entry into primary school through young adulthood. The study sample included 2166 youths who had at least one valid teacher rating for aggressive behavior between first and third grade. Measured via standardized interviews in the mid-primary school years, teacher rated childhood aggression was obtained from first to third grade, and early-onset drug use was defined as any illegal drug use before the age of 13, including marijuana, inhalants, crack/cocaine, and/or injection drug use. Early-onset alcohol drinking was measured and specified in terms of having drunk alcohol without parental permission or having experienced being drunk before the age of 13. Other covariates, including deviant peer affiliation and parental monitoring, were obtained from self-report interview in the fourth grade. The outcome measures involved two data sources: official adjudication records for violent offenses before 18, and young adult self-reporting of violent acts before age 15.; Descriptive analyses showed that, based on official adjudication records, a total of 732 violence-related offenses were identified among 2166 participants. The fact that 320 youths accounted for the 732 violence-related offenses indicates that violent behavior is not a single event. Youths who were persistently adjudicated for violent offending later in life were more likely to have already engaged in violent offending at an earlier age. Males appear to initiate violent offending early in life. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...